Danli Honduras Tabaco is a small boutique cigar company based out of Danli, Honduras with US offices in Blacksburg, VA. I was approached by the company last year to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their cigars on Stogie Press and and the company sent me samples of their Don Juan Calavera line. The name Calavera translates to “Skull”.
The Don Juan Calavera line comes in three different blends; Connecticut, Sumatra, and Maduro (Mature). For this review, I will focus on the Sumatra blend, which the company describes as:
- Wrapper – Sumatra (Honduran)
- Binder/Filler – Honduran (Jamastran) Nicaraguan (Jalapa & Esteli)
Each blend is expressed in a single 6 x 52 toro, packaged in beautifully decorated 10-count, flip top, cedar boxes. The MSRP for this is set around $9.89 and I know you can find these at Frontline Cigars here.
Pre-Light Examination
The first thing you will notice about this cigar, and all the blends in this line, is there is a large black tissue paper sleeve that covers most of the cigar. Unlike most brands, that use such an outer cover, Danli Honduras Tabaco went one step further and added two folds at the top so when applied to the cigar it has the look of a dinner jacket.
The outer sleeve is easily removed to display a well constructed cigar that is medium tan in color with a slight oily sheen and a few noticeable veins in the wrapper. The cigar is silky smooth to the touch and solidly packed from head to foot. A double cap finishes the presentation.
Instead of giving my impression of the ornate band, a little Google search comes up with the Trademark for this line described as:
“The mark consists of a gold oval bezel picture frame with decorative adornment at the top and featuring a bust of a Day of the Dead Dia De Los Muertos white skeleton skull wearing a black top hat with red band, the face of which is decorated with purple, green and blue floral patterns, and having larger purple flowers for eyes and which eye sockets are ringed with smaller yellow flowers, and having an open wide white toothy smile clinching a brown, lighted cigar, and wearing a brown cape with red bow for a tie, displayed against a background of blue and red floral pattern, and having a red ribbon below and outside the frame across which in gold the words Don Juan Calavera are written in script.“
Running the Don Juan Calavera Sumatra across the nose, I picked up a touch of sweetness and mild fruit along the barrel while the foot exuded enticing notes of nut and natural tobacco sweetness.
As I do with all cigars I review, I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and gave it some cold puffs that I would describe as spot on with restriction and offering notes of nutmeg and a slight cayenne pepper. The cold draw had me drawing a little more than usual as the pepper warmed the lips.
With the pre-light exam out of the way, it was time to warm the foot, which I used a double flame torch to do. I drew in the first puffs of sweetness and fruity tang. Follow along as I burn this one to ash. I should note, I have smoked five of these since I received them, and over the course of time, they developed beautifully with age.
Cigar Review Notes
- Smooth start with a fruity aroma along with sweetness and slight fruity tang early in the burn
- Medium grey ash evolves on a thin to medium char lines
- Mild spicy notes on the retro-hale
- Woody notes enter near the end of the first third
- Coffee notes add to the mix as the sweetness increases
- Ash fell with a a Stogie Press signature burn cone
- Spice begins to evolve into cinnamon moving through the second third
- Slight wave in the burn
- Aroma shifts to more of a nut
- A cedar nuance finds its way in deep in the second third
- Aroma returns to fruit
- Nut enters in final
- Medium strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Danli Honduras Tabaco Don Juan Calavera Sumatra Toro was one of those cigar I smoked plenty of over time and enjoyed each one. Each sample performed excellent and the flavors and aromas were well balanced and transitioned well. The burn was decent with only a slight wave that eventually corrected itself. I highly recommend picking a box off these beauties. We rate this a 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn Midway; (-1) Medium Grey Ash
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Positive/Consistent Experience across Multiple Samples
Gee, this branding sure looks familiar – Wes (Crowned Heads)
I recall mentioning that to Jon a year or so ago…